Vernon Kay has leapt to the defence of his BBC Radio 2 colleague Jeremy Vine after he used what some deemed an 'offensive' term to refer to older people. The lunchtime presenter appeared on Vernon's show near the close of his programme yesterday (June 18) to preview the news topics lined up for discussion.
Among the stories was that of retired British pair Jane and Alan Kelvey, who were sailing a yacht in the English Channel this week when a Russian warship allegedly fired warning shots in their direction, which the couple characterised as 'small arms fire'. This occurred mere days after Royal Marine Commandos intercepted a Russian shadow fleet oil tanker in those very waters, against a backdrop of escalating UK-Russia tensions.
Jeremy, however, says a term applied to the couple in some reports has ruffled feathers. He explained: 'Yesterday, we were talking about the yachting couple who had the little crossover with the Russians. They were described in a lot of media as OAPs. A lot of people are cross about that.'
When Vernon queried whether he meant 'Old-Age Pensioners', Jeremy went on: 'Yeah, that is not acceptable as a way of describing anybody anymore, apparently. It's the latest word to go.'
Vernon pressed further: 'Is it offensive?' Jeremy responded: 'It has certainly offended people who were listening to my show yesterday. Yeah, it came up ... let's just say somebody said it. And it's been ... okay, it was me.'
Vernon found himself laughing at what his colleague had revealed, with Jeremy clarifying he'd been quoting a newspaper headline. Vernon remarked: 'But the thing is, Jeremy, is you only know when you say it. And it's not ... you didn't mean any offence. You've been educated.'
Jeremy confirmed that of course he didn't mean any offence and explained that people took offence at the media's general use of the term. Vernon theorised that it may be because we 'don't feel old anymore' and have a 'zest for life'.
It wouldn't be the first time that Jeremy has faced backlash from the public. In 2022, he suggested on his Channel Five talk show that Russian soldiers 'deserve to die' for joining the invasion of Ukraine. During a discussion about the conflict, he posed a question to the public: 'Would you go and fight Ukraine?' A man named Bill from Manchester called in to share his views.
Jeremy asked Bill: 'What is your problem with fighting Russians if they have invaded Ukraine? What is your problem with doing that?' Bill responded, alluding to World War Two: 'Russia were our allies. The people of Russia are not our enemies.'
'I don't think they are the enemies. Quite a number of those Russians, you will probably find, will go across and hold their hands up this morning, not wanting to fight the Ukrainians. They were told lies by Putin, surprisingly!'
Jeremy said: 'That's then, this is now. The brutal reality is you put on a uniform for Putin, and you go and fight his war, you probably deserve to die, don't you?' Bill exclaimed: 'Do you? Do kids deserve to die? 18-, 20-year-olds called up and conscripted? They don't understand it, that is the brutality of war, and we never learn from that!' Jeremy replied: 'That's life, that's the way it goes, I know, but if you are Ukrainian, the answer is yes.'
It prompted comments from X users, including one that said: 'He's just insensitive & tactless. I don't know how he's got the jobs he has in the media tbh #JeremyVine.' A second said: 'What an insensitive and callous man JV is with this outrageous condemnation of young Russian conscripts, who have no other choice but to join the army. #JeremyVine.' While a third chimed in: 'It's one thing to play devil's advocate but another to be this kind of insensitive [and] callous #JeremyVine.'
